Improvement in signal-codes for rockets



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FELT.

SIGNAL GODE FOR ROGKETS.

Noi 40,744. Patented Dec. 1, 1863.

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3 Sheets Sheet 2.

G. H. FELT. SIGNAL conf; PoR ROGKBTS.

No. 40,744. Patented Dsc. 1, 1861.3.

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G. H. FELT. SIGNAL com: PoR RoeKETs.

No. 40,744. Patented Dee. 1, 1863.

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www. mw NNN hhw UNTTED- STATES GEORGE H. FELT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT INSIGNAL-CODES FOR ROCKETS.

Specification forming puit ol" Leiters Patent No. 110.744, datedDecember l, 1363.

To all whom, z' may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. FELT, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and improved method of conimunicatingintelligence by signals, by means of rockets, Roman candles, coldlights, flags, and lanterns, &c.; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, forming part of this specification.

This invention is more especially designed for signaling for militaryand other operations; and it consists in arranging spaces representingletters, or words, or figures, or combinations of the same, iua seriesof columns,\vhich spaces in any of these columns are designated in thecode by the number, or letter, or sign designating the column in whichthe desired space is found, and the number on the side designating thelayer or lateral column in which the space is found, the intersection ofwhich points out the space desired to be designated, which denition willbe more distinctly understood by reference to the drawings, Plate 1,Figure 1. By this mcnsa much greater number of combinations can be madethan could otherwise be procured,for the following reasons: Thepyrotechnic art,whieh is one of thd most powerful and certain means ofsignaling, furnishes but three positive colors--1'ed,wliite, andgreen-and the combinations that can be made with the1ntaking, forinstance, red as 1,white 2, and green B-are very limied, being buttwentysever when signals of 'Tiree elements are used, as in the presentcode, Plate l, Fig. 1, 111613333, which, when arranged as this code,will give 272.2729. The rockets which 1 propose to use with this codeare rockets of my Patent No. 39,636, dated August 25, 1863.

To enable others to make and use my invention, 1 will proceed todescribe its construction and operation.

Plate 1, Fig. 1, represents the code arranged .for all the combinationsof three elements designating the columns, twenty-seven in number, andthe combinations from 111QD233, eighteen in number, designating thelayers or lateral columns. To designate any one oftl1 ese spaces, it isnecessary to designate the number on the top and the number on the side,and their intersection will be the space required. For instance, to sendthe message* Headquarters Third Corps, Army of the Point of Rocks,

and in this manner to send any message that can be sent by the code.Plate 1, Fig. 2, represents the code arranged on sliding leaf in frameZ). Plate 2, Fig. 1, represents the sliding leaf No. 2 drawn out threespaces to the right. Plate 2, Fig. 2, represents the sliding leaf No. 3moved three spaces to the left. Plate 3, Figs. 1 and 2, represents thereverse sides of Plate 2,.Figs. 1 and 2.

Similar lettersA of reference indicate corre sponding parts in thesimilar figures.

For the more convenient carrying and use of this code, it is arranged ordivided by sections into leaves a,w hich are heldin frames l), whichframes are attached or bound in book form c by long flexible hinges ofparchment or other material, d. The leaves a are made to slide in andont of the frames b, whereby the relative positions of the columns andframes are changed. The leaves are also made so that they can be takenout and put into any other frame, by which means a greater variety ofchanges can be produced. For instance, the leaf 1 can be placed in theframe 3, and the leaf 2 in the frame 1, and the leaf 3 in the frame 2.The object of making these changes is to be able to change the code asoften as may be necessary to prevent the code from being used if itshould fall into the hands of the enemy by accident or treachery.

It will be observed by reference to the drawings, Plates 2 and 3, thatboth sides of the movable leaf and `frame are used, the reverse sidebeing arranged to run either in the same or contrary direction. In thedrawings, Plate 2, Figs. l and 2, the numbers run from left t0 right,and on the reverse sides, Plate 3, Figs.

1 and 2, the numbers run in a, contrary direc-y tion-i. e., from rightto left. This is au additional means of changing the relative positionby ruiming t-he numbers on the reverse side in the saine direction-i.a., from left to rightwhich will -be readily perceptible, but wouldrequire another model and set of drawings to show, as by thismeans theupper half of the code is moved in one direction and the lower half .inthe other direction.

As the numbers to be designated are composed of but three elements, 1,2, and 3,whieh, respectively, stand for the colors, say, red, white, audgreen, I have arranged the following method of notation, bywhichexpedition is attained and the person enabled to put down the numberswithout looking at them. For in? stance, red is represented by theoblique mark \,wl1iteby the perpendicular mark l, and green bythehorizontal 1nark-. Combinations of the same element may be shown byintroducing a curve in the same direction, as

follows: l

1 11 111 333 See codePlate 1, Fig. 1, 221 ffD 313, inclusive.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by VLetters Patent,is-

1. The combination in columns of spaces representing Words, letters,figures, or combinations ofthe same, any one of which can be designatedby the corresponding numbers of the column and'layer, the intersectionof which will be the space required, substantially as an for thepurposes herein specified.

'2. Arranging these columns on leaves, which leaves are made to slide inan out of the frames, whereby the relative positions of the spaces arechanged, substantially as and for the purposes'herein specified.

3. Arranging these columns on both sides of the frames and movableleaves,substantially as and for the purposes herein spccied.

4. Designating the colors or numbers by characters instead of numerals,substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

GEORG-E H. FELT.

Witnesses:

WM. H. ARTHUR, HENRY G. PnARsoN, J, W. WHITE.

